Fall has begun in New York and soup season is here! I love soup. It can be comforting, delicious and nutritious. And like many other popular dishes that exist in multiple cultures, soup has several origin stories. Among the most popular is the suggestion the word “soup” can be traced back to the sixth-century Latin word “suppa,” meaning a piece of bread eaten in broth. We’ll go with that. There are endless creative ingredient combinations for a delicious soup. Here I…

Both Lavender and Mint are wonderfully fragrant on their own. Combined, that heavenly fragrance is even better! Both grow in full abundance this time of year and I like to get creative with how to use these prolific herbs. I recently created “floral” arrangements with these beauties and they were magnificent. Lavender + Mint are also a great combo in iced tea. I like making big batches of it and keeping it chilled in the fridge for hot summer days….

Cauliflower is a wonderful ingredient to cook with. This cruciferous vegetable has a mildly earthy and nutty flavor. It’s easy to cook, a nice source of vitamin C and quiet filling as vegetables go. I try to incorporate vegetables in most meals, but once a week I like to highlight them in my Meatless Mondays. It is a simple way to not only diversify the week’s meals, but also experiment with whatever seasonal vegetables tickle your fancy at the moment. The…

Legend has it Kabab was invented by medieval soldiers who used their swords to grill meat over open-field fires. But mostly likely cooking pieces of meat over a flame has been around since humans began cooking with fire. There are cultural variations to skewered food around the world: En Brochette as in the French technique, Satay of Malaysian or Indonesian origin , Souvlaki of Greece, Yakitori of Japan (which literally means “burnt chicken”), Espetada of Portugal and my personal favorite Shish…

Over the years I’ve enjoyed many delightful meals with my friend, Anjali. We both like beautiful and healthy food but never compromise flavor! So we teamed up for our next video to cook a delicious menu of panko crusted Dijon Cod fish and a fragrant Mediterranean salad with fresh herbs. The fish is light and flaky with a tang of Dijon and cooks in a snap. The cucumber-tomato-feta salad is savory, fragrant and colorful. Pair that with a chilled Rose…

Hi Friends, I’m excited to introduce the first video of our Basil and Roses YouTube Channel! I team up with my cousin Kam to make the best steak of your life. Impressive doesn’t have to mean fancy. All you need is great ingredients and technique, fabulous company and wine doesn’t hurt either. The recipe is below. Check us out and feel free to comment, share, try the recipe and give us feedback. Happy cooking!

Yesterday was a full day of work in the garden, feeding and pruning the kids. But, it’s all worth the hard work as June is one of the loveliest months in the garden. The roses are gloriously perfuming the oasis. The hydrangeas are in early stages of color while courting the bumble bees. The marigolds echo the scent of the earth while murmuring the colors of the sun. The day lilies are bursting with gold while flirting with the wind….

Every year my family hosts a big Memorial Day BBQ for our friends and family. On the menu are burgers, hot dogs, grilled chicken, veggies and lots of side salads and condiments. Over the years, I’ve learned to perfect what my friends call “The Naz Burger”.” It’s simple and delicious, and based on the feedback I’ve received on the 700+ burgers (that’s not a typo) I’ve made over the last decade, I think you’ll like them too! You too can…

There is something uniquely special about the appeal of fire, we love being around the warmth and glow it creates. There is something that draws us towards the bonfire and the hearth. I believe our memories- conscious or subconscious, personal or collective are a part of that draw. Most of us have treasured memories of people who have cooked for us- Mothers, Fathers, Grandparents, friends… We cherish these memories because they are a special reminder of the love and generosity…

I love eggs. It is one of the most versatile ingredients in the kitchen and I’ve enjoyed learning different ways of working with it. From a humble omelette to a sumptuous souffle, the options of what you can make with eggs are infinite. For those of us who are not vegan, eggs are an excellent wellspring of nutrition in a single source- eggs provide proteins, antioxidants, fatty acids, amino acids, and vitamins and minerals. Omelettes are great on weekends, like this Scallion and…

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About Me

Welcome to my Happy Place!

This is where my passions collide. Food, Flowers, Fashion, Family, Beautiful Things and the influence of my Persian culture that seems to be the poetic filter I see the world through. Read More about “About Me”…